Tuesday, 15 August 2006

A ROCHDALE community organisation tackling drug problems was the subject of a radio documentary.Ramadhan Foundation were followed by BBC Five Live for six months documenting their 'United Against Drugs' campaign.The Foundation, which also teamed up with Deen4All and Wardleworth for All, have been tackling drugs abuse by talking to drug dealers about the dangers of their activities in the community.They also waged a campaign against prostitution, reducing the number of street workers in the Deeplish area of the town.

Said spokesperson Mohammed Shafiq: "The Radio Five showed the world the other side of Muslims - the community focused people who want to clean the area of drugs and prostitution."Despite receiving death threats from certain people, we feel our campaign has had a big impact in the community."Prostitutes know they are not welcome and will be driven out and therefore we see less of them as well as the drug dealers."

Chairman of Ramadhan Foundation, Muhammad Umar added: "We thank the BBC for giving us the opportunity to show the listeners the work we are doing."

The ‘hearts and minds’ battle for British Muslims that failedThe government pinned its sights on reform but the taskforce it set up says it has been let down, writes Jon Ungoed-ThomasIn an Oldham mosque Mohammed Shafiq, a worker for an educational foundation, recently stood before the devotees and made a heartfelt plea. Young Muslims, he said, should confront violent extremism in the heart of their community.

This battle, according to Shafiq, starts with an acknowledgment. “We have to recognise that within the Muslim community there is a small number of people who are hellbent on committing mass murder,” he said. “9/11 was not a Jewish conspiracy and Tony Blair was not behind the July 7 attacks. There are people in our community who want to kill innocent people.”

It is a stark message and Shafiq, who works for the Ramadhan Foundation, which aims to improve the education of young Muslims, admits that genuine change in the Muslim community could take a long time.

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I'm a proud British Muslim and live in the United Kingdom. I am regular commentator in the TV, Radio and Print media in relation to Muslim issues, I appear on the media regularly and am providing a positive image of Muslims in the UK, speak up against terrorism and extremism and tackle the main issues facing our nation. You can watch my apperances on www.youtube.com/ramadhanfoundation